Paysandu induced excitement and high hopes among its supporters by sealing their place in the Copa Verde semifinals with a decisive 4-1 victory over Manaus on February 26, 2025, at the Arena da Amazônia. Following a goalless draw at Curuzu during the first leg, the stakes were high, and the players didn’t hold back, demonstrating impressive teamwork and determination.
Early on, Paysandu established control of the match with Borasi scoring just two minutes after kickoff. Seizing on defensive lapses from Manaus, he sprinted past defenders and struck the ball decisively past goalkeeper Gustavo, setting the tone for the Papão's authoritative performance. Following this, Rossi doubled the lead at the 13-minute mark. After exploiting another error, he capitalized on the rebound from Gustavo's effort, tapping it easily for an open goal.
Even though Paysandu was dominant, Manaus fought back and kept trying to engineer their own opportunities. This pressure culminated when Martínez fouled Zé Augusto within the area, resulting in a penalty awarded to Manaus. Renanzinho stepped up and scored, bringing the score to 2-1. It was evident the fight wasn’t over.
But Paysandu quickly regained their composure, even reorienting their strategy when Bryan Borges was sent off with two yellow cards. Giovanni later assessed the situation, stating, "Fico feliz e honrado por fazer mais um gol com essa camisa. Espero que seja uma temporada de muitos gols. Tenho uma meta pessoal de gols e assistência" (I am happy and honored to score again with this jersey. I hope this will be a season of many goals. I have personal goals for goals and assists). This sentiment hinted at not just a personal victory, but one shared with the team.
After the sending-off, the Papão adapted, and their resilience paid off when Rossi initiated another rapid counter-attack, which led to Pedro Delvalle finding the net. This moment underscored their strong communication and synergy, bringing the score to 3-1. Giovanni later reflected on this phase of the game: "Estava mais difícil do que esperávamos. Com todo respeito à equipe deles, poderia ser um placar mais elástico" (It was more difficult than we anticipated. With all due respect to their team, the score could have been more significant).
With just minutes left and their victory within grasp, Paysandu sealed the match with another goal. Giovanni confidently took the penalty kick following another foul on the team, executing it with finesse and coolness to avoid the keeper's reach and solidifying the final score at 4-1.
The win not only allowed Paysandu to advance to the semifinals but also inspired confidence and energy for upcoming matches, especially as they await the outcome of the Amazonas versus São Raimundo-RR matchup. The anticipation was palpable among the fans as these decisions could shape the future paths for the club this season.
Overall, the match demonstrated not just Paysandu’s offensive prowess but also illustrated their capacity to adapt under pressure, tactics solidified through teamwork. The echoes of Giovanni's aspirations for organizational success reverberate as the team sets their eyes on the championship.